Water propulsion device

ABSTRACT

A compression head with an inner valve is adapted for improved water propulsion.

United States Patent 1191 Whang Apr. 2, 1974 WATER PROPULSION DEVICE2,751,876 6/1956 Ogilvie 115 22 [76] Inventor: Lee Yun whang, ExecutiveHotel 3,027,576 4/1962 Fmes 9/310 D 237 Madison Ave., New York, NY.FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10016 860,054 1 1971 Canada ..1 115 3122 i June 20 1972 8l9,382 9/l959 Great Britain ll5/3l 348,678 5/1937ltaly 9/310 D [21] Appl. No.1 264,487

' I Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler 52 us. c1. 115/31, 9/310 1)Assistant Emminer'-Paul Sauberer 51 1111.01 B6311 16/04 Attorney, Agem,or FirmAuSlander & Thomas [58] Field of Search 115/31, 28 R, 22 R, 21,

1l5/22.126.3, 32, 22; 9/310 R, 310 D [57] ABSTRACT [56] References CitedA compression head with an inner valve is adapted for UNITED STATESPATENTS improved water propulsion. 85,789 4 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures1/1869 Carpenter 115/31 MIENTED APR 2 I974 m 1 BF 6 WATER PROPULSIONDEVICE The present invention relates to a new water propulsion device.

In the past, oars, screws and jets have, among-other things, served topropel people and vehicles through the water. While many of thepropulsion means of the past still have utility, the propulsion deviceof the present invention has flexibility of application, effectivenessand efficiency. In some applications, there is an efficiency overpresent modes of use and in other applications there are new uses notheretofore applied.

The basic principle is that of a plunger which has heretofore been usedin applications with water. In U. S. Pat. No. 3,313,265, the plunger ofFIG. 12 is purely a plunger and used as a steadying device.

In expanded use of the water propulsion device of the present invention,it may be used as a propulsion means in a boat. U. S. Pat. No. 1,028,093suggests a supported umbrella type propulsion device not having the.ease of movement of the water propulsion device of the presentinvention.

Even U. S. Pat. No. 817,810 for a forward facing rowing oar for a rowboat does not suggest the practical advantages of the water propulsiondevice ofthe pres? ent invention, even though it cansubstantiallyachieve the same end result.

According to the present invention, a cuplike'device is provided on asupport with means to engage a fluid, or fluids in reciprocal motion,maximizing compression and minimizing friction, drag or suction in itsrecipro-- cation.

Although such novel feature or featuresbelieved tobe characteristic ofthe inventiontare pointediout'in the claims, the invention andthe-mannerinwhich it may be carried out may be further understoodby referencetothe description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial view of a substantiallysquare version of thecompression head and shaft of the water propulsion device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of a conical compression head and shaft of thewater propulsion device of the present invention with valves on thehead.

FIG. 3 is a partial view of a conical compression'head and shaft with avalve in the hollow shaft of thewater propulsion device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a broken away view of a reinforced head, shaft and handle ofthe water propulsion device of the present invention.

FIG. 4a is a view of FIG. 4 at lines 4a 4a of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of the handle of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a viewof the head. of FIG. 4. showingthe shaft and valve.

FIG. 6a is a section of the head of FIG. 6 showing the valve closed.

FIG. 7 is a broken away head of FIG. 6 with an alternate valve explodedaway.

FIG. 7a is a section of the head of FIG. 7 showingthe valve in position.

FIG. 8 is a view of a pair of water propulsion devices of the presentinvention being used for propulsion ona pair of buoyant water skis.

FIG. 9 is a section of a water ski of FIG. 8 at lines 9' FIG. l0 is asection of a water ski of FIG. 8 at lines 10 10.

FIG. 1 l is a view of a pair of water propulsion devices of the presentinvention with a variant handle used for face forward propulsion of arow boat.

FIG. 12 is a partial section of the shaft and handle of the waterpropulsion devices of the present invention of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a variant water propulsion device of th present inventionoperable with a bellows pump.

FIG. 14 is a variant water propulsion device of the present inventionoperable with a fixed pump.

FIG. 15 is a boat including a pump species of the water propulsiondevice of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a section of FIG. 15 showing the water propulsion device ofFIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a surf board including a pump species of the water propulsiondevice of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a side elevation cut away showing the water propulsion deviceof the present invention of FIG. 13.

FIG. 19 is a cut away boat using a water propulsion device with abellows pump and crank reciprocating mechanism.

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a water propulsion device of the present invention engagedwith a reciprocating engine and having a pump.

FIG. 22 is a section of FIG. 21' operable with a valve only.

FIG. 23 is a partially cut away view of a boat with a water propulsiondevice of the present invention and reciprocity engine.

FIG. 24- is a view of the water propulsion device adapted for swimmingfins.

FIG. 25 is a bottom view of one of the swimming fins of the waterpropulsion device of the present invention.

. sion coming through the head 21 and may open when pressure passesthrough the shaft 22. As will hereinafter be set forth, the functioningof the parts shall be described in relation to their operations.

In FIG. 2 the compression head 24 is conical and mounted on a solidshaft 25. Inward of the compression head 24 are a series of flap valves26 with hinges 27, permitting the valves 26 to open inward.

In'FIG. 3, a simple conical compression head 28 is mounted on a hollowshaft 29. A valve 30 includes a hinge 31 which allows the valve 30 toopen inward of the compression head 28.

Depending on the application of the water propulsion device 20, thecompression heads 21, 24, 28 may be made flexible, pliable or rigid.

In FIGS. 4 7, the basic preferred embodiment is shown with a flexiblecompression head 32 mounted on a hollow shaft 33 with a'hollow handle 34at the end of the shaft 33.

The compression head 32 is provided with a plurality of radiating ribs35, substantially radiating from the apex 36 of the compression head 32.Between the ribs 35 the gores 37 are flexible so that they may collapseon an upstroke.

The handle 34 is hollow so that there is no obstruction between thehandle 34 and the shaft 33 other than a valve.

In FIGS. 6 and 6a the flap valve 38 is shown with a hinge 39 hinged toclose over the hollow shaft 33.

In FIGS. 7 and 7a a ball valve 40 has threads 41 which mates withthreads 42 on the end of the shaft 33 to hold the ball 43 in the cage 44for opening and closing the shaft 33.

In FIGS. 8 10, the water propulsion device 20 of the present inventionis shown used with self-sustaining buoyant water skis. The skis 45 arepreferably buoyant enough to sustain the skier 46.

As can be seen, the skis 45 are laminated with a layer 47 of plasticfoam to give buoyancy and lightness. The skis also have downwardlydepending arms 48 to catch air for buoyancy and guide the skis 45through the water and a keel 49 for stability. The skiers 46 feet areheld in foot grip 50. It may be convenient to have wrist straps 51,preferably coming off the handle 34 of the water propulsion device 20.

The water propulsion device 20, when used with the row boat 52,preferably has its handle 53 modified to have a hand grip 54. The waterpropulsion device 20 is preferably held in pivotable rings 55.

Rowing then can be performed in a forward facing position, the waterpropulsion device 20 being gripped and moved backwards at the hand grips54. In FIG. 12 the section of the handle 53 shows the clear openingbetween the shaft 33 and the handle 53.

The water propulsion device 56, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 uses acompression head 57 such as shown in FIGS. 4 11 with a hollow bent shaft58. The bend 59 is designed to keep the compression head 57 under waterat all times and free from the vehicle upon which I it is being used.

In both FIGS. 13 and 14 the hollow shaft 58 is connected with a pump. InFIG. 13, the pump is a bellows pump 60. In FIG. 14 the pump is afixedpump 61. In both instances, the handles 34 are mounted on a hollow shaft62 in preferably welded or integrally attached to the outer portion ofthe hollow shaft 58. A flap valve 63 is adapted to close the shaft 62under the pressure of forward movement. Thus, as can be seen in FIGS.through 18, reciprocation of the compression head 57 will tend to expellair taken in through the handle 34 under pressure through thecompression head 57.

In FIGS. I5 and 16 are shown a boat 64 employing a pair of waterpropulsion devices 56 as illustrated in combination with a fixed pump61. Reciprocation of the water propulsion device 56 in the slots 65slideably guided by channels 66 (only one shown) propels the boatforward on the back stroke of the water propul- The water propulsiondevice 70 is on a boat 71 which includes a pump, in this case a bellowspump 72 in series with the shaft 73 and compression head 57. The shaft73 is reciprocated by a crank 74 and a gear train 75.

In FIGS. 21 23 a rigid compression head 76, quite similar to thecompression head 28 is mounted on a hollow shaft 77 and engaged in areciprocating engine 78. The compression head 76s valve 79 is located atthe end of the shaft 77 as a matter of convenience. The compression head76 is operable with a pump 80 as illustrated in FIG. 21 as a fixed orrigid pump or operable without a pump as shown in FIG. 22. I

In FIG. 23 a boat 81 with the compression head 76 and water propulsiondevice construction 82 with a reciprocating engine 78 and pump housing83 is shown. The pump 80 and/or the valve 79 work as in the otherembodiments of the present invention. It is preferable, though, forproper propulsion, that the compression head 76 be rigid.

In FIGS. 24 26 a compression head 84, substantially a compression head57 truncated at an angle, is combined with foot grips 85 and opening 86covered by a flap .valve 87. Surrounding the foot grips 85 are ribs 88joined to flexible gores 89.

As shown in FIGS. 24 and 26, a down kick by a swimmer 90 closes thevalve 87 and an upward movement of the leg tends to open the valve 87.

In operation, various forms of propulsion through water by use of thecompression heads as shown and described, is effected by the combinationof the compression heads and the valves as shown and described.

The conventional plunger having a hollow head at the end ofa pole asshown in FIG. 12 of U. S. Pat. No. 3,313,265 may provide a form ofstability and balance in water propulsion but the withdrawal of suchdevice is met with suction which may either prevent withdrawal or createdrag. The umbrellalike propeller shown in FIG. 2 of U. S. Pat. No.1,028,093 has an equivalent difficulty. Upon closing and withdrawing, it

has full water drag.

sion device 56 and forward from the expelled air from the pump 61 on theforward stroke. The bend 59 keeps the water propulsion device 56normally beneath the surface of the water. Steering may be affected byselecting the movement of one or another of the water propulsion devices56. V

In FIGS. 17 and 18 the water propulsion device 56 of FIG. 13 is employedin conjunction with surfboard 67. The water propulsion devices 56 ridein slots 68 and are held in channels 69 (only one indicated). For thepurpose of illustration, a pump is employed to provide the extrapropulsive force.

In the present invention, the embodiments of the compression heads 21,24, 28 have bodies capable of entrapping air and water, or water alone.In a down thrust with air and water entrapped, the air compressessomewhat as a spring and at the same time closes the respective valves23, 26, 30 on thewithdrawal of the thrust air and/or water, opening thevalves 23, 26, 30, reducing the drag and easing movement.

The preferred embodiment is the compression head 57, which may be seenin FIGS. 8, ll, 13, 20, having ribs 35 between gores 37. Thus a thrustexpands the compression head 57 and closes its valve 38. Thus,compression is obtained against water or water and air. Upon withdrawal,the compression head 57 collapses to reduce drag and water and/or airmove freely through the shaft, facilitating movement.

In FIG. 8, the buoyant water skis are quickly propelable with thecompression head 57, shaft 33 and handle 34 controlled by the valve 38.

In FIG. 11, the hand grip 54 of the boat 52 allows a strong grip forforward facing propulsion of the boat 52, maintaining all the advantagesof compression and lack of drag.

Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 13 18, the shaft 58 may be bent tomaintain the compression head 57 under water at all times. A furtheroption in the implementation of propulsion is the addition of air viathe pumps 60, 61, the air being pumped without the withdrawal of thecompression head 57 out of the water.

In FIG. 19, a variant of the present invention is shown using a crank 74and gear train 75 with an optional pump. The invention of FIG. 19 couldoptionally be pedaled.

The water propulsion device 82 as shown in FIGS. 21 23 is driven by areciprocating engine 78. The compression head 76 is preferably rigid towithstand the speed and power of the engine 78. The valve 79 in thisinstance is at the end of the shaft 77. The pump 80 may optionallyimplement propulsion by feeding air to be compressed in the compressionhead 76 on the withdrawal strokes.

In FIGS. 24 26 the ribs 88 and gores 89 are formed to the shape of acompression head 84 which captures air and water as the swimmer 90swims. The outer shape of the compression head 84 aids swimming, thecompression of the air with its concomittant closure of the valve 87provides spring and buoyancy to the kick. The upstroke of the kick isunimpeded by water or air since the flap valve 87 allows water and/orair to pass freely into the compression head 84.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms ofdescription; it is recognized though that various modifications arepossible.

Having thus described certain forms of the invention in some detail,what is claimed is: I

l. A water propulsion device comprising a hollow open shaft, said shafthaving a hollow collapsible compression head portion attached to one endof said shaft, at least one opening in said hollow compression headportion, said hollow head portion comprising flexible gores betweenstiff ribs, valve means, said valve means disposed between said hollowcompression head portion and said hollow shaft to close said openingunder pressure into said hollow compression head portion and at leastone opening outward of said hollow compression head portion to saidvalve means to open said valve means into said hollow compression headportion under pressure from outside said hollow compression headportion.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shaft includes a hand grip.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said valve means are flap valvemeans.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said valve means are ball and cagemeans.

1. A water propulsion device comprising a hollow open shaft, said shafthaving a hollow collapsible compression head portion attached to one endof said shaft, at least one opening in said hollow compression headportion, said hollow head portion comprising flexible gores betweenstiff ribs, valve means, said valve means disposed between said hollowcompression head portion and said hollow shaft to close said openingunder pressure into said hollow compression head portion and at leastone opening outward of said hollow compression head portion to saidvalve means to open said valve means into said hollow compression headportion under pressure from outside said hollow compression headportion.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shaft includes a handgrip.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said valve means are flapvalve means.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said valve means areball and cage means.